Baby Friendly Community Initiative

A young, healthy child at a health center in Bakan District, Pursat Province.

To improve the nutritional status of children under five, RACHA supports a community-based initiative called the Baby Friendly Community Initiative. BFCI promotes early breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding, and growth monitoring of children under two years old. RACHA trains a group of volunteers known as the Mother Support Group (MSG) in how to assist mothers and babies in their communities. In health education sessions, MSGs also teach community members about preparation of nutritional meals, food security, hygiene, home gardening, and poultry and fish farming.